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Culture

UNM art professor Ellen Babcock explores traditional, nontraditional practices

Megan Gleason | March 7

With a variety of skills under her belt, both traditional and nontraditional, University of New Mexico associate art professor Ellen Babcock excels in the art world knowing she wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. “If you’re an artist, you don’t really want to be doing anything else. It’s its own satisfaction,” Babcock said. Babcock is experienced in both painting and sculpture but has been more concentrated on painting in the last five years. She said painting is a faster process and isn’t dependent on physics like sculpting is.

Culture

REVIEW: ‘It's What I Do’ showcases life through lens of conflict photojournalist

Liam Debonis | March 7

Pulitzer prize-winning conflict photographer Lynsey Addario’s memoir “It’s What I Do: A Photojournalist’s Life of Love and War” is about more than just photojournalism. In a novel-like fashion, Addario weaves a complex tale of love, pain and exploration as she recounts her life, from the early years of her career in Latin America to her evocative documentation of women in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan. Addario begins her memoir discussing her home life, and while it initially seems irrelevant in the overall theme of intense, adrenaline-filled conflict photojournalism, the chapter serves as a bedrock to fully understand Addario’s roots and values that drove her to pursue such a career.

Culture

Digital vs. film photography: Two UNM professors’ perspectives

John Scott | March 7

As a painter considers what paints they need to execute their latest idea, a photographer must ask themselves what medium they will choose to bring their photograph to life. Typically, this comes down to two options: digital or film? When digital cameras first came into the consumer scene in the 1980s, professional and casual photographers alike were hesitant to make the transition due to poor image quality, according to a CNET article that tracks the history of the digital camera. It wasn’t until the development of digital single-lens reflex cameras and the invention of cell phone photography that digital became the main photographic medium.

Culture

Artists flourish at ABQ Artwalk, in local practices

Mackenzie Schwartz | March 6

The first Friday of every month, artists take over downtown Albuquerque with their locally made art while live music drifts through the streets and tasty smells from food trucks waft through the air. The most recent ABQ Artwalk was held on March 4 and many local artists attended to show off what they have created over the years. Bearface, a local artist, has “been part of Artwalk since day one,” which was in 2017. He has been practicing art since he was a teenager and is currently passionate about creating abstract art. He wants everyone to try their hand at art.

Culture

REVIEW: ‘The Batman’ is a long, dark success

John Scott | March 3

Prior to its release, “The Batman” seemed destined to be another attempt from DC Comics to distinguish themselves from Marvel. From the casting of Robert Pattinson as the titular crimefighter to director and co-writer Matt Reeves’ dark vision for Gotham, “The Batman” seemed to be further demonstration that DC is seemingly more focused on telling individual, more creatively risky stories rather than establishing grand multiverses. This time around, it still works mostly in their favor. Generally speaking, the film doesn’t deviate much from what we’ve come to expect a “Batman” movie to contain: some sort of villain with a grand plan to expose a larger evil within Gotham. Oh, and Batman is in the middle of all of it.

Culture

UNM students strike gold with original sitcom pilot ‘Jackpot!’

Zara Roy | March 3

On March 2, the University of New Mexico’s sitcom boot camp class held a live table reading of the pilot episode of their original sitcom “Jackpot!” at the Colloquium auditorium. “Jackpot!” is about slick swindler Cesar who forms an unlikely partnership with a childish tech genius Hershel as they delve into the world of cryptocurrency in an effort to get rich quickly. It was received with hearty laughter from those in attendance. The distinct contrast between the two main characters is integral to creating enough conflict for a successful sitcom, according to writer Alice Marshall.

Culture

5 and Why: 5 ways to honor Women’s History Month

Natalie Jude | February 28

With March comes Women’s History Month, and University of New Mexico senior studio art student Taylor Wachs is excited to celebrate. She shared five ways to honor women for Daily Lobo readers. Represent women artistically Wachs believes art is a great way to represent people, problems and solutions. She is taking part in a large photographic mural for Women’s History Month and said it’s a great means for representation and appreciation. This, Wachs said, is a kind of project she’d like to see more of. “We’re designing a whole wall in the art building … a whole public art program,” Wachs said. “Doing something like that is always good.”

Culture

Kirsten Buick ready to take helm as director of Africana Studies

Megan Gleason | February 28

Intensely passionate about mentoring students, Kirsten Pai Buick is ready to lead Africana Studies as director at the University of New Mexico. Africana Studies, which was voted to move to department status by the Faculty Senate last week, will teach undergraduate students and, eventually, graduate students. “The history of African Diaspora people in this country is fascinating, and it’s a story that can’t be contained to one discipline, and so the multidisciplinary nature of Africana Studies means that we also have our eyes trained on political science and sociology and art and theater and dance and English … Just any place on this campus that you could point to, African Diaspora people are there,” Buick said.

Culture

REVIEW: 'The Power of the Dog' seethes with deliciously soft tension

Zara Roy | February 28

Jane Campion’s “The Power of the Dog'' is a masterful and visually rich film. The story, sometimes a slow build, is propelled along by incredible acting and interesting character dynamics. Released last November, this film has well-earned its 12 Oscar nominations. Campion made history by being the first female director to be nominated twice for the Best Director category. At the time she received her first nomination for Best Director in 1996, she was only the second woman to have ever been nominated for the award. The movie is a tense, simmering tale of a rancher, Phil (Benedict Cumberbatch), and his antagonistic relationship with his brother’s new wife Rose (Kirsten Dunst) and her son Peter (Kodi Smit-McPhee).

Culture

UNM theater students gear up for SCRAP spring fest

Zara Roy | February 28

Thespians rejoice: starting March 4, the University of New Mexico’s department of theatre and dance and UNM’s student theater organization SCRAP are holding a festival of two new plays written, directed, performed and coproduced by undergraduate students. The two plays are “The Jaw Comb” and “Letters to a Dead Poet.” Performances will be held at the X – Experimental Theatre March 4-6 and 10-13. “I’m really excited, just for everyone to have their own piece of this play … I’m excited to see how it flourishes and how everyone gets to work on stage with it and takes it in a way that they feel proud of,” Savannah Ramirez, writer of “The Jaw Comb” said.

Culture

REVIEW: ‘Drive My Car’ is a smooth, emotional ride

John Scott | February 28

With “Drive My Car” being both a foreign language film and having an almost three-hour runtime, it checks off two boxes that a large number of successful Oscar-hopeful films have had in the past few years (like “Parasite,” “Roma” and “The Irishman”). But to say that “Drive My Car” is merely a combination of previously successful elements would be almost an insult as Japanese director Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s film seems to defy all definition and explanation. Even with a runtime of almost three hours, “Drive My Car” never lets off the gas. Hamaguchi has slowly been making waves throughout the indie film scene ever since the 2015 film “Happy Hour” garnered him international attention.

Culture

Street medic advocates for ABQ’s marginalized communities

Zara Roy | February 21

Albuquerque resident Ciel Melody works tirelessly to advocate for marginalized communities in the city and is building up a new local street medic coalition where they’ll train other community members in street medicine. Originally from North Carolina, Melody first became interested in activism in 2015, around when they were hospitalized for a chronic illness and also came out as transgender. “Ever since I came out, really … I’ve been interested in trying to make a difference in my community … I’ve been sick and tired of sitting around my whole life and watching things happen and saying I’m gonna do something. I want to actually do something,” Melody said.

Culture

Local tattoo artists navigate effects of COVID-19

Maddie Pukite and Mackenzie Schwartz | February 21

While the COVID-19 pandemic ramped up factors of cleanliness around the nation, many tattoo shops in Albuquerque were already adhering to these standards. Now, however, artists are navigating woes in their own safety factors, increased supply chain prices and a changed social atmosphere in their shops. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, artists had to be extremely careful regarding sterilization, according to All Is One Tattoo artist Bianca Sanchez, so the increased sanitation wasn’t anything new to her. “It's not too different, just because everything's already pretty clean … We have to sanitize (tools) out of sight and everything like that so, really, the only difference is masks,” Sanchez said.

Culture

UNM Art Museum opens ornate exhibition ‘Mysterious Inner Worlds’

Natalie Jude | February 21

In her first solo exhibition in New Mexico, Anila Quayyum Agha started showing “Mysterious Inner Worlds” on Friday, Feb, 18 at the University of New Mexico Art Museum. With a unique combination of Islamic architecture and personal concepts about sacred spaces’ patterns, the exhibit has four sculptures that are all activated by light. The installation is comprised of works of paper, beads, metal and light, with Agha’s designs being guided by traditional Pakistani artistry and made to convey feelings associated with her experiences with religion, gender, culture and danger, according to the UNMAM gallery guide. Many of the pieces use the sewing techniques taught by her mother as well as beads and papers sourced from Pakistan, according to the UNMAM gallery guide.

Culture

REVIEW: ‘The Worst Person in the World’ revives the rom-com

John Scott | February 21

Writer and director Joachim Trier’s “The Worst Person in the World” finally received a wide-release in the United States on Feb. 4 after dazzling movie fans and critics alike at its premiere at the 2021 Cannes Film Festival. After having the chance to watch the film for myself, it’s no surprise why Trier’s slick, stylish and subversive film has won over the hearts and minds of so many viewers. The opening montage thrusts the audience into the chaos and confusion that is confronting our main character, Julie, and many other 20-somethings all around the world. Initially, Julie is studying to become a surgeon.

Culture

UNM theater program showcases original plays at sold-out Linnell Festival

Zara Roy | February 15

The University of New Mexico theater program kicked off their spring performance lineup with this semester’s Linnell Festival of New Plays in which three original plays, created by students in the Masters of Fine Arts dramatic writing program, were performed by undergraduate students at the X – Experimental Theatre from Feb. 9-13. Every single performance at the festival sold out even with expanded capacity being secured for both nights of “The Eccentrics.” “When you work on a play with the same group of people for a length of time, it’s easy to focus on everything that needs to be improved, and so by the time you get it in front of an audience and they’re seeing it with fresh eyes, you kind of rediscover it with them,” Amy Yourd, writer of “Remain in Light” said.

Culture

UNM senior works in D.C. for congressional internship

Natalie Jude | February 14

Matthew Zank, a senior studying political science at the University of New Mexico, is spending this semester — his final one — in Washington, D.C. thanks to the Fred Harris Congressional Internship program. Zank is interning with Melanie Stansbury, the current U.S. representative of New Mexico's 1st Congressional District. Zank has been interested in politics his entire life and has tried to maximize his engagement in the political sphere of students throughout his time at UNM, serving for two years as a senator for the Associated Students of UNM. “I was an ASUNM senator from fall 2019 to spring 2020,” Zank said. “Student government gave me a precursor to government and working with legislation.”

Culture

5 and Why: 5 ideas for local dates for new couples

Natalie Jude | February 14

The weeks surrounding Valentine’s Day can be particularly nerve-wracking, especially for those in new relationships, but Albuquerque has plenty to offer in terms of activities for the dating scene. University of New Mexico sophomores Geronimo Romero Campbell and Cooper Lennon offered five ideas for simple but meaningful dates around Albuquerque for new couples. Go to the movies A classic date is a trip to the movies, according to Romero Campbell. He said the experience is simple and exciting, and there’s not much room for error. “There’s just not much that can go wrong … Everything is pretty much all set for you,” Romero Campbell said. “See what kind of person they are with the movies.”

Culture

‘A deeper connection’: UNM professors offer lessons on love letters

Annya Loya | February 14

In a digital age, classic romantic gestures can go a long way, especially during the month of love. Two University of New Mexico creative writing professors sat down with the Daily Lobo to share tips with readers on why and how to write the perfect love letter. Diane Thiel has been teaching creative writing at UNM for 20 years and believes that “love letters are a beautiful way to build a deeper connection.” “A love letter allows one to consider and reflect and choose words carefully, rather than simply speaking in the moment,” Thiel said. Love letters can have more emotional value than other mediums and can serve as a mark of seriousness about your feelings, according to professor Sharon Warner.

Culture

REVIEW: Examining a graceful yet turbulent relationship in ‘Normal People’

Emma Trevino | February 14

This review has spoilers for “Normal People” When news of a television adaptation of Sally Rooney’s superb Ireland-set novel “Normal People” hit my ears, I first thought they could never do the book justice. But when it was released in April 2020, the two main characters’ on-and-off relationship proved me wrong and displayed a master class in understanding power dynamics and how easily your soulmate can slip through your fingers. The show tells the story of Connell’s (Paul Mescal) and Marianne’s (Daisy Edgar-Jones) relationship from high school until the end of college, as the two frequently break up just to get back together again when they realize they can’t be without each other.